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Nigeria Premier League

Spurs take the points at Vitality Stadium Bournemouth

Goals either side of half-time from James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski earned Tottenham Hotspur a 2-0 win over AFC Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium on Saturday.

Spurs drew first blood when Maddison bagged his first goal for the club following his summer move from Leicester City in the 15th minute.

And although the Cherries had chances to level, Sweden international Kulusevski doubled their lead midway through the second half.

Summer signing Justin Kluivert made his full Premier League debut as Cherries head coach Andoni Iraola made two changes to his starting line-up.

Kluivert, who made substitute appearances against West Ham and Liverpool, was joined by defender Lloyd Kelly, the pair replacing Marcos Senesi and Jaidon Anthony.

The visitors were forced to defend in numbers as the Cherries made an encouraging start with an early penalty appeal for a push by Cristian Romero on Dominic Solanke falling on deaf ears.

Spurs were thwarted during the early stages when Kelly cleared Son Heung-min’s low cross and Illia Zabarnyi cut out a through ball from Maddison.

Max Aarons charged down an attempt by Richarlison before Philip’s timely tackle prevented Destiny Udogie from delivering a cross from the byline.

The Cherries had a let-off after Neto’s intended pass had been intercepted, a combination of the Cherries goalkeeper and Aarons doing enough to prevent Maddison from profiting in the 15th minute.

However, the Spurs man drew first blood just two minutes later, Maddison scuffing the ball past Neto and into the bottom corner after Pape Matar Sarr had picked him out with a defence-splitting through ball.

Neto smothered after Sarr had taken aim through a crowd of players before Son fired wide of the upright after Maddison’s corner had fallen to him midway through the first half.

Antoine Semenyo, who was on target in the Cherries’ defeat against Liverpool, saw an effort blocked by Spurs defender Micky van de Ven having been teed up by Philip’s cushioned pass.

Philip then climbed at the far post to meet Ryan Christie’s free-kick, his header deflecting off Pedro Porro and landing in the grateful hands of Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Referee Tim Robinson deemed Romero’s crunching challenge on Semenyo to have been fair, much to the annoyance of the Cherries bench and supporters who were convinced it should have been a foul.

To compound their frustrations, Spurs immediately mounted a counter-attack with Milos Kerkez and Joe Rothwell both playing a part to clear their lines after Richarlison had looked to add a second.

Richarlison then headed Maddison’s free-kick into the side netting before Vicario threw himself to his left to beat away Christie’s stinging drive from the edge of the box.

Deep in first-half stoppage time, Philip curled an effort inches past the post after Kluivert’s shot had been blocked and rolled into his path around 15 yards from goal.

Cook replaced Rothwell for the start of the second half, the former Blackburn man possibly having succumbed to injury after having treatment in the first half.

Yves Bissouma and Richarlison were booked in quick succession for fouls on Semenyo and Zabarnyi, respectively, before Solanke’s inviting centre across the face of the goalmouth was eventually cleared.

Semenyo went close to levelling in the 57th minute, his first-time effort from the edge of the box flashing past the post before Philip’s shot struck Perro.

A double change on the hour saw Anthony and Hamed Traorè come on for Christie and Kluivert before Spurs made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute.

Kulusevski arrived at the near post to sweep Udogie’s cutback past Neto following a flowing move down the left by the visitors.

As the Cherries looked to halve the deficit, Anthony worked an opening but fired low into Vicario’s hands before Maddison dragging his shot wide after racing through.

Spurs substitute Ivan Perišić escaped with a yellow card after appearing to lash out at Aarons, a VAR check agreeing with referee Robinson’s decision.

Ben Davies went close to adding a third for Spurs in added time when he fired narrowly over the crossbar before Perišić’s low drive flashed past the upright.

AFC Bournemouth: Neto, Aarons, Zabarnyi, Kelly, Kerkez, Rothwell (Cook, h/t), Philip (Moore, 86), Christie (Traorè, 60) , Kluivert (Anthony, 60), Semenyo (Brooks, 73), Solanke.

Unused subs: Senesi, Mepham, Hill, Radu (g/k).

Booked: Kelly.

Tottenham Hotspur: Vicario, Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie (Davies, 82), Sarr (Perišić, 59), Bissouma (Lo Celso, 73), Kulusevski, Maddison (Skipp, 73), Son Heung-min, Richarlison (Højbjerg, 59).

Unused subs: D Sánchez, Emerson Royal, Solomon, Forster (g/k).

Booked: Bissouma, Richarlison, Perišić.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Attendance: 10,567.

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Nigeria Premier League

Rangers Secure 2-0 Win Over Abia Warriors As NPFL Action Heats Up

Rangers International players celebrating a goal during their NPFL win over Abia Warriors in Enugu.

Rangers International put on a show in Enugu on Wednesday, sealing a convincing 2-0 victory over Abia Warriors in their rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday five encounter.

The Flying Antelopes got off to a bright start as Chigozie Iwundu struck in the 13th minute, sending the home fans into wild celebrations. Just before the half-hour mark, Godwin Obaje doubled the lead, showcasing his fine form with two goals in his last two matches.

The win catapulted Rangers into fifth place on the NPFL table with 11 points from seven games, keeping them within touching distance of the top four. Meanwhile, Abia Warriors, despite the loss, remain in fourth place with 12 points from the same number of matches.

Elsewhere at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano Pillars secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kwara United in a rescheduled matchday six fixture. Club legend Rabiu Ali rolled back the years, scoring the only goal in the 23rd minute to give Pillars a much-needed victory.

With the NPFL season still taking shape, fans can expect more drama, goals, and big performances as the race for the top intensifies.

At Sports Market International, we continue to bring you the best coverage, analysis, and insights from the world of football and beyond. Stay tuned — the NPFL is only just getting started!

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Nasarawa United Head Coach Mbwas Mangut Hails Players After 2-1 Victory At Bayelsa United

Nasarawa United Head Coach Mbwas Mangut Has Praised His Players For Their Impressive Performance Following A Hard-Fought 2-1 Away Victory Against Bayelsa United In The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The Solid Miners Showed Resilience At The Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, On Sunday, Rallying From A Goal Down To Secure Their First Away Win Of The 2024/25 NPFL Season.

How The Game Unfolded

Bayelsa United Took The Lead In The 36th Minute Through Jawad Mustapha, Putting The Hosts In Control. However, Nasarawa United Responded Bravely, With Ekeson Okorie Restoring Parity Just Before Half-Time.

Substitute Victor Onovuke Then Delivered The Decisive Moment In The 89th Minute, Scoring The Winning Goal To Hand Nasarawa United A Memorable Victory On The Road.

Mangut Talks Up Massive Win

Speaking After The Match, Coach Mbwas Mangut Highlighted The Determination And Discipline Of His Team Despite Difficult Playing Conditions.

“It Was A Very Tight Game Based On The Condition Of The Field As It Was Water-Logged Due To A Heavy Downpour,” Mangut Told The Club’s Media.

“We Conceded Through An Error, But We Played Our Way Back And Got What We Worked For. After Losing Their Last Home Game, Bayelsa United Were More Under Pressure In Today’s Game. So, We Came With A Game Plan To Frustrate Them The More, And It Worked For Us.

“I Give Credit To My Boys For Being Able To Get The Job Done, Without Sounding Disrespectful To The Bayelsa United’s Side, Because They Gave Their All, But Unfortunately Couldn’t Get Any Positive Result.”

What The Result Means

The Win Marks A Significant Step Forward For Nasarawa United In Their NPFL Campaign. Securing An Away Victory Against A Tough Opponent Like Bayelsa United Underscores Their Ambition To Climb Higher Up The Table And Compete With The League’s Best.

Sports Market International Continues To Deliver The Best Sport Blog Content Across The World, Highlighting NPFL Action, Tactical Insights, And Inspirational Stories That Shape The Sports Market.

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Rivers United Offer Free Jerseys And Free Admission Ahead Of NPFL Clash With Shooting Stars

Former Super Eagles Coach Finidi George’s Rivers United Are Raising The Stakes Ahead Of Their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Clash With Shooting Stars By Offering Fans Free Replica Jerseys And Free Admission To The Match. The Rivers State Outfit Will Host Ibadan Warriors At Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium On Sunday, In One Of The Biggest Fixtures Of Week Four.

Both Teams Are Eager For A Win After Dropping Points Last Weekend. Rivers United Settled For A Goalless Draw With El-Kanemi Warriors, While Shooting Stars Were Held By Nemesis Ikorodu City In Ibadan.

To Ignite Fan Support And Boost Their Chances, Rivers United Announced On Social Media A Special Giveaway:

“FREE Replica Jerseys For FANS! Gate Fee: FREE! Don’t Miss Out! Show Your Team Pride & Join Us For An Electrifying Match.”

This Bold Move Highlights The Pride Of Rivers’ Determination To Secure All Three Points In This Crucial Encounter As Finidi Looks To Challenge For The NPFL Title Again.

The History Between The Two Clubs Adds Extra Spice To The Fixture. Rivers Have Claimed Four Wins In The Last Eight Meetings, While Shooting Stars Have Three. Notably, In Their Last Four Meetings In Port Harcourt, Rivers United Have Been Dominant With Four Clean-Sheet Victories, Including A 2-0 Win In Shooting Stars’ Last Visit.

Finidi George’s Rivers United Will Be Hoping To Rely On The Unwavering Support Of Their Energised Home Crowd, Boosted By The Free Jersey Offer, To Continue Their Strong Home Form And Shoot Down Oluyole Warriors This Weekend.

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